Kenneth Ridehalgh – Nelson

May 2018: Now released back to Nelson

April 2014

Nelson man jailed for child sex offences

A Nelson man has been jailed for four years for two child sex offences dating back 20 years.

Kenneth Ridehalgh (57), of Edward Street, had denied a string of offences and had been acquitted of most of them at an earlier hearing.

But he had been convicted of one of sexual activity with a child and another of indecent assault and was sentenced at Burnley Crown Court this afternoon.

He received a four-year sentence on the former charge, and a 12-month concurrent sentence on the second.

The court issued a restraining order preventing Ridehalgh contacting the victims for two years.

Molesting East Lancs roofer jailed for four years

A ROOFER who molested two girls under the age of 16 has been jailed for four years.

Kenneth Ridehalgh, from Colne, was found guilty at Burnley Crown Court of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old girl during the 1980s and 1990s.

One of Ridehalgh’s victims spoke of the ‘long, hard road’ to get him convicted, but praised the courts for the sentence dealt to her abuser.

Ridehalgh was cleared of charges involving two other alleged victims, including three counts of rape, 14 offences of indecent assault and three charges of gross indecency with a child.

The 57-year-old, of Edward Street, pleaded not guilty to all counts. After he was charged, Ridehalgh was arrested under suspicion of intimidating witnesses, but no charges were brought against him, the court heard.

Rosalind Emsley-Smith, defending, told the court: “The offences were 20 years ago and there was no offending in the following period.”

She added: “Mr Ridehalgh retains the support of his family and friendship group.”

Judge Andrew Woolman said in relation to the indecent assault of the 13-year-old girl: “You were drunk when the incident occurred. Your drunkeness is no excuse for what you did.”

Judge Woolman said the incident involving Ridehalgh’s 15-year-old victim ‘should never have occurred’.

He said: “She was too young and you knew she was too young.”

Speaking after the sentencing, the victim, who is now an adult and cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was very grateful justice has been done.

She said: “Going to the police was the right thing to do. It’s taken me 20 years to do it, but I’m glad I did. It’s a long, hard road.”